Reinforced composite membrane for polymer electrolyte fuel cell

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a proton-conducting reinforced composite membrane, and more particularly, to a reinforced composite membrane which is manufactured by introducing an additive into a sulfonated hydrocarbon-based polymer as a proton-conducting material, and impregnating the additive-introduced polymer into a porous polymer having excellent dimensional stability.

1 . A proton-conducting reinforced composite membrane manufactured by introducing an additive as monomers alone or a polymer blend of a mixture of two or more selected from the group consisting of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, trifluoroethylene and tetrafluoroethylene, into a sulfonated hydrocarbon-based polymer composite material, and impregnating the additive-introduced polymer composite material into a porous polymer matrix. 
     
     
         2 . The proton-conducting reinforced composite membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the additive is used in an amount of 0.1 to 50 wt % based on the total weight of the sulfonated hydrocarbon-based polymer. 
     
     
         3 . The proton-conducting reinforced composite membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon-based polymer is one or a mixture of two or more selected from the group consisting of polysulfone, polyaryleneethersulfone, polyetherethersulfone, polyethersulfone, polyimide, polyimidazole, polybenziimidazole, polyetherbenziimidazole, polyaryleneetherketone, polyetheretherketone, polyetherketone, polyetherketoneketone and polystyrene. 
     
     
         4 . The proton-conducting reinforced composite membrane of  claim 3 , wherein the hydrocarbon-based polymer has a sulfonation degree of 10 to 80%. 
     
     
         5 . The proton-conducting reinforced composite membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the porous polymer matrix is one or a mixture of two or more selected from the group consisting of polysulfone, polyaryleneethersulfone, polyetherethersulfone, polyethersulfone, polyimide, polyimidazole, polybenziimidazole, polyetherbenziimidazole, polyaryleneetherketone, polyetheretherketone, polyetherketone, polyetherketoneketone, polystyrene, polytetrafluorethylene, polyethylene and polyprophylen, preferably polyimide. 
     
     
         6 . The proton-conducting reinforced composite membrane of  claim 5 , wherein the size of each of pores inside the porous polymer matrix ranges from 0.001 to 1000 μm, and the pores are linked to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The proton-conducting reinforced composite membrane of  claim 5 , wherein the porous polymer matrix has 0.001 to 50% of water content. 
     
     
         8 . A proton-conducting reinforced composite membrane manufactured by the method comprising:
 introducing an additive as monomers alone or a polymer blend into a hydrocarbon-based polymer composite material;   impregnating the additive-introduced polymer composite material into a porous polymer matrix.   
     
     
         9 . The proton-conducting reinforced composite membrane manufactured by the method of  claim 8 , wherein the polymer blend is a mixture of two or more polymers. 
     
     
         10 . The proton-conducting reinforced composite membrane manufactured by the method of  claim 8 , wherein the monomer or polymer blend is selected from the group consisting of: vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, trifluoroethylene and tetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         11 . The proton-conducting reinforced composite membrane manufactured by the method of  claim 8 , wherein the hydrocarbon-based polymer composite material is a sulfonated hydrocarbon-based polymer composite material. 
     
     
         12 . The proton-conducting reinforced composite membrane of  claim 1 , wherein the additive is used in an amount of 0.1 to 50 wt % based on the total weight of the hydrocarbon-based polymer.